Back in the Tropics

We must apologize that we have not blogged since May when we were in Mt Gambier SA, and we posted the photos of our hot air ballooning in Tanunda. Of course we have seen most of you since then but here is a summary of our travels since SA.

We spent a week in Mt Gambier as we needed to avoid the Victorian coast due to a public holiday booking out the Vic coastal caravan Parks, however Mt Gambier was a very pleasant place to stay for a week seeing all the “limestone coast” scenery and catching up with Kath Black from OPSM days.

We traveled the Victorian coast staying at Port Fairy and Apollo Bay and visiting Warnambool and having a great couple of days doing the Great Ocean Road. We were lucky that we had beautiful clear and fine weather on this part of the coast, which is so often cloudy, windy and wet. It is truly spectacular. We crossed the entrance of Port Phillip Bay by car ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento which was interesting and saved us traveling through Melbourne. We stayed a couple of days at Sommerville and explored the Mornington peninsular. From there onto Lakes Entrance, which is very scenic too and then we climbed the Victorian Alps via Omeo and Mt Hotham to stay at Bright. This was a very interesting trip, never having the caravan at such high altitude (1800 meters) and then taking it easy on the way back down the mountains to Bright. Bright is a place I would love to see again in the winter, probably not in the van.

As we were due in Goulburn on March 23rd for Stephen Yeadons 50th we stayed a night at Gundagai before arriving in Goulburn. We ended up staying three weeks in Goulburn with our wonderful hosts, visiting the Yeadons, Shirl (Sue’s mum) and Steve & Jeanette, buying a new car (in Sydney) and contributing lots to the Goulburn economy getting the car set up for our travels. We had a great time there with the Yeadons, who spoil us, but it was good to get back into the van, it’s just like getting home.

The next 3 weeks were spent in one of the best caravan locations we have been in at the home of Steve and Jeanette at Werombi, near Camden. We caught up with all our family members that we had been missing for the previous 10 months. We also enjoyed a picnic with a number of our ex OPSM friends at Steve & Jeanettes. We also did the rounds of doctors (all ok) optometrist ( first time I have had to buy glasses but got them half price at least) and dentist (one less wisdom tooth). Thanks to Steve & Jeanette for their wonderful hospitality and we are looking forward to being back with them in December.

Sadly we lost Shirl during this time. She fell ill after developing a foot infection in the nursing home and was admitted to Wollongong hospital but deteriorated fairly quickly due to her poor blood circulation. Fortunately Shirl did not suffer for too long passing away on April 30th. It was good that Sue and I as well as Christine and Stephen were able to spend some time with her before she died. Shirl had not had a good quality of life in the past 12 months so it was a relief for her and the family.

Following the funeral last Monday Sue and I realised it was time to start heading to warmer climates again. We left Werombi last Wednesday having overnight stops at Mudgee (catching up with Judy Hitchcock for a drink), Narrabri and Miles and feeling the warmth at Rockhamton. We are currently spending a few days a Sarina and will visit some of the Queensland spots we have not seen before on our way to Mission Beach where we plan to spend the winter, life’s tough !!

Bye for now, love Chris, Sue & Olly.